NEW DELHI: The Indian contingent showcased a remarkable display of grit and athleticism on Thursday at the 2026 Asian Games, cementing its presence across multiple disciplines. From the synthetic tracks to the shooting ranges and the wrestling mats, India’s athletes demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with, securing a flurry of medals and setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling second half of the tournament.
Seema ends India’s wait in women’s 10,000m
The track and field events proved to be a major highlight as Seema, 25, etched her name into the history books. Clocking a resolute 32:50.05, Seema clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m, marking India’s first medal in this discipline at the Asian Games since the legendary duo of Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut dominated the podium back in 2010.
While Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi (32:39.18) and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka (32:41.54) took the top two spots, Seema’s performance was nothing short of historic. Her ability to navigate the grueling distance and hold off the competition signifies a bright future for Indian long-distance running.
Mixed relay team adds another medal
The Indian athletics squad continued its momentum in the mixed 4x400m relay, a discipline that has quickly become a stronghold for the country. The quartet of TS Manu, MR Poovamma, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj finished with a strong time of 3:14.46 to claim the silver medal.
The path to the podium was not without drama; the results were held in limbo following an official protest lodged by the UAE. However, once the dust settled and the UAE was disqualified, India’s second-place finish was officially cemented behind a record-breaking performance from Bahrain, who took the gold in 3:12.87. This result marks India’s third consecutive medal in the event, maintaining an impressive consistency since the event’s inception in 2018.
Roshibina wins second straight Asian Games silver
In the world of wushu, Roshibina Devi Naorem once again proved her mettle. Despite falling 0-2 to China’s Zhang Xiaoyu in the women’s 60kg sanda final, Roshibina secured her second consecutive Asian Games silver medal. With a total of three medals now to her name—including her 2018 bronze—Roshibina stands as India’s most decorated wushu player at the Games.
Her journey to the podium is a testament to her resilience. Initially left out of the squad after a setback in the trials, she was drafted in as a replacement for the injured Divyanshi Choudhary. Her silver-medal finish serves as a powerful reminder that seizing the opportunity is half the battle won.
Anantjeet-Parinaaz clinch historic skeet mixed-team bronze
The shooting range remained a productive venue for India as Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal secured a historic bronze in the skeet mixed-team event. This was India’s first-ever medal in the category, capping off a prolific 48-hour period for Indian skeet shooters, who have now secured medals in all three skeet events offered at these Games. The tactical prowess displayed by the duo reinforces India’s growing dominance in technical precision sports.
Rowers finally have a medal to show
The rowing contingent broke through the tension on Thursday as Satnam Singh and Salman Khan rowed to a well-deserved bronze in the men’s double sculls. Clocking 6:13.25, the pair held steady in a grueling race against the elite of the continent, marking India’s first-ever medal in this specific event at the Asian Games. While China took the gold and Uzbekistan the silver, the Indian pair’s performance underscored the team’s relentless pursuit of the podium.
Kabaddi and Squash: Dominance and tactical evolution
On the mat, India’s kabaddi teams continued their march toward another title. The men’s team dismantled Chinese Taipei 37-21, while the women’s team routed Japan 50-25. With these wins, both squads have secured their spots in the semifinals and guaranteed at least a bronze medal, keeping the dream of a gold-medal defense alive.
In the squash courts, the strategy was purely internal. Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna both cleared their hurdles to set up a high-stakes, all-Indian quarterfinal clash in the women’s singles. The depth of talent in Indian squash was further highlighted by Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani, both of whom advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals, signaling a massive day for the sport.
Hockey prowess and track progress
The men’s hockey team remained in clinical form, steamrolling Korea 8-2. Dilpreet Singh was the star of the show, delivering a stunning hat-trick, while Abhishek added a brace to keep India firmly atop the Pool A standings. Having already put massive margins past Indonesia and Sri Lanka earlier, the team looks firmly set for the knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, on the track, sprinters Animesh Kujur and national record holder Gurindervir Singh successfully navigated their heats to book their spots in the men’s 100m semifinals.
While the day saw its share of disappointment—most notably with Asha Ilango narrowly missing out on a triple jump medal by the slimmest of margins and the elimination of fencing ace C A Bhavani Devi—the overall narrative remains overwhelmingly positive. As India looks toward the coming days, the momentum generated on Thursday provides a firm foundation for the challenges that lie ahead in the 2026 Asian Games.
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